TCOLE Racial Profiling Practice Test

The correct answer is based on the legal precedence set by the Supreme Court case Maryland v. Wilson, which established that law enforcement officers are allowed to order passengers out of a vehicle during a lawful traffic stop. This authority is justified on the grounds of officer safety and the practical circumstances associated with traffic stops.

During a traffic stop, officers may face potential risks from the occupants of the vehicle. Allowing officers to have passengers exit the vehicle reduces these risks and helps them to maintain control over the situation. The ruling emphasizes that this action does not constitute an unreasonable search or seizure under the Fourth Amendment, as the officers are acting within the scope of their duties during a legitimate traffic stop.

While options involving conducting searches without cause, making arrests without probable cause, or conducting full searches of passengers address important legal concepts, they do not reflect the specific holding of Maryland v. Wilson regarding the authority to manage individuals in the vehicle during a stop.